Against All Odds (1 of 6): “test results”. Humpbuckle Tales 185

March 6, 2022March 2, 2022 Bruce Olivia fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“You’re such a sickly child,” her mother says.

Olivia is often unwell.

Stomach pains, headaches, sometimes she even finds it difficult to get out of bed.

Olivia spends a lot of time in hospitals around the country.

Finally, a doctor diagnoses the problem.

Her mother has Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-eighty-fifth story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Written by Bruce Arbuckle (@felt.buzz on Hive). Find the latest in the Humpbuckle Tales series on Hive

“manicure”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 184

March 5, 2022March 2, 2022 Bruce Margot, Olivia fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

When she sees her least favourite client approach the door of Swish Lips and Nails, Olivia’s heart sinks.

She isn’t sure why she dislikes the Mayor’s wife – she’s polite, loyal and a good tipper.

The perfect customer, in fact.

But there’s something about Margot Simmons that makes Olivia’s skin crawl.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-eighty-fourth story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“spring chicken”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 183

March 4, 2022March 2, 2022 Bruce Lilly fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

“You’re not welcome here!” the man pokes a finger at the young woman.

She steps back along the bus, visibly scared.

The other passengers look at their feet.

Lilly’s no spring chicken,

But she’s not dead yet.

“Excuse me,” Lilly says, smiling at the woman. “Is this man bothering you?”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-eighty-third story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“evil smile”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 182

March 4, 2022March 2, 2022 Bruce Hooper fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Hooper doesn’t like his paternal grandmother.

She’s a mean woman with a vicious tongue.

According to his mother when the old bag was first introduced to baby Hooper she recoiled from the crib, announcing he had an evil smile.

Hooper stares at his mirrored reflection.

Perhaps, she had a point.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-eighty-second story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“credit card”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 181

March 3, 2022March 2, 2022 Bruce Hooper fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

The cleaner finds the credit card whilst cleaning Hooper’s room.

The name on it – Mr A. Stretch – doesn’t match anyone in the household.

The cleaner puts it back where she found it.

It is none of her business what the strange boy collects.

Besides, the credit card expired years ago.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-eighty-first story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“murder”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 180

March 3, 2022February 21, 2022 Bruce humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Compared to other towns of its size, Humpbuckle-on-sea has always had an unusually high murder rate.

Smugglers, using hidden coves to land illicit goods, may explain some of the killings.

But, not all.

Is it possible for a place to be truly evil?

Extract from “Humpbuckle: Murder Town”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-eightieth story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

“test results”: a 50-word story. Humpbuckle Tales 179

March 2, 2022February 21, 2022 Bruce humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

He checks the clock.

Three minutes later than the last time he checked.

The doctor said she’d ring at ten.

But she’s busy.

He knows that.

Don’t worry, she said.

Wait for the test results.

No point speculating before then.

The phone rings.

Taking a breath he takes the call.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-seventy-ninth story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Fungus Face (6 of 6): “skin problems”.Humpbuckle Tales 178

March 2, 2022February 21, 2022 Bruce humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

Miss Mackey is cross.

“Where were you? We’ve been searching for an hour.” She folds her arms. “We almost called the police…”

Perhaps noticing the tear-streaked face, her voice softens.

“Are you okay?”

She almost tells all.

The acne.

The bullying.

The shame.

She takes a breath.

“I’m fine.”

…

This is the one-hundred-and-seventy-eighth story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Fungus Face (5 of 6): “Comic books”. Humpbuckle Tales 177

March 1, 2022February 18, 2022 Bruce humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

She tries to avoid Wendy but the churchyard is too small.

“Look,” Wendy says, smirking. She holds up a comic book. “You feature in this story: Fungus-Face Girl!”

It’s a lame joke.

Linda, standing behind Wendy, at least has the decency to look embarrassed.

Tears come anyway.

She runs.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-seventy-seventh story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…

Fungus Face (4 of 6): “double pointed”. Humpbuckle Tales 176

March 1, 2022February 18, 2022 Bruce humpbuckletales fiction, fiftywordfiction, fiftywordstory, flash fiction, flashfiction, humpbuckletales, microfiction, short story, story, zapfic50

They go on a day trip to Double-Pointed.

The village has an old church and a pub that is supposedly haunted.

She sits at the front of the bus, near the teachers, avoiding Wendy and the others.

She can hear whispering and sniggering and looks down at her shoes.

…

This is the one-hundred-and-seventy-sixth story in the series of Humpbuckle Tales. Each story is precisely 50 words long. They are meant to be independent stories, but if you read them all you will find each one adds another piece to the puzzle – there is a bigger story that is being told.

This story was first published on my Hive blog (@felt.buzz) and you can find all the stories on the @humbuckletales Hive account.

Hive is a blogging platform that rewards posts in a cryptocurrency (Hive).

You will find over 70 more Humpbuckle Tales on the @humbuckletales Hive blog (so this blog is about 6 weeks behind)

On Hive I publish 12 stories per week (Monday to Saturday one story per day and then six 50-word stories in one post on a Sunday).

On HumpbuckleTales.com I also publish 12 tales a week but at a different schedule (and about 6 weeks behind): 2 Tales every day, Monday-Friday and 1 Tale on Saturday and 1 Tale on Sunday.

…